
Drama No. 4 


Battle of the Bush .— The Regicides 


ATTENDANTS. 

Heroic Villagers of Hadley ; Old Israel, Tom, Noah, Nathan, and 
Deacon Drown; a member of Parliament; a member of a Court; Mrs. 
Whitterwinkle, White, and Lesley. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 


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mx Ststorical ©rama* 

[YEARS 1640 TO 1676.] 




By ROBERT B. CAVERLY, 

Poet and Historian. 


DRAMATIS PERSONAS 


William Goffe, ) 

Edward Whalley, > Regicides. 
John Dixwell, ) 

Sir Geo. Ayscue, . j ‘'’ e 

Jo Bradshawe . . . Ch. Judge. 
Michael McPherson, A Catholic. 
Dr. Drug .... A Churchman. 
King Charles I. 

The Duke of York. 

The Princess Elizabeth. 

Aunt Margery, ) 

Jennie Geddes, $ 

Kianemo .... The Betrothed, 


Dissenters. 


Oliver Cromwell, The Protector. 
Messengers, 1st and 2d. 

Nimrod. An Irishman. 

The King’s Constable. 

Mrs. Fleetwood, > Daughters of 
Mrs. Claypole, . i Cromwell. 
Richard . . . Son of Cromwell. 

Joice. A Captain. 

Naylor. A Quaker. 

Harrison, 1 

Peters, [ ... Republicans. 

Jones, ) 

Leonora . . The Squaw Sachem. 
Sagamore Sam. 












































HISTORIC AND POETICAL WORKS 


OF 


B. CAVERLY. 



VOICE OE THE CRITICS. 


“Caverly, the author, is a distinguished lawyer. He has rendered an important service. 

He has brought into fresh notice times and men.has embalmed their deeds and memories in 

verse, which may well be immortal.” — Hon. Nathan W. Hazen, in Essex Banner of Aug. 10,1866. 

At a public reading of the author’s “ Merrimac ” : — “ As we listened, we thought it might not 
improperly be called a symphonic song or poem of the creation ,—there was such comprehensive 
blending of varied melodies. We were taken back to the time when ‘the morning stars sang to¬ 
gether;’ and then, by the gradually more measured tread of the language, the worlds were 
launched, and the mountains reared their crests up to the stars. In majestic diction the hills of 
New England were depicted. In the more flowing numbers that succeeded, we were aware that the 
streamlets were born, and trickling, drew their silver line down the rocky slopes. Through the 
meadows meanders the peaceful river, gladdening herb and bird and man. The songs of the happy 
tenants of the air, and the sounds of many innocent and prosperous industries are heard from every 
side. Then, in more constrained, almost impatient rhythm, is given the vivid picture of Nature in 
chains, but even the captive is beneficent. No longer the sportive, rambling runlet, but now the 
giant Merrimac in the hands of the Philistines. The noise of a thousand wheels, the whirl of ten 
thousand spindles, and the clatter of looms, are pictured in language fitly chosen to typify these 
active, gigantic and incessant activities. And then, like peace after strife, comes the melodious 
description of the gorgeous fabrics, more wonderful than any fairy legend, and by the rich, subdued 
spirit of content that fills the verse, we feel, without being told, that a state of society in which all 
amenities, graces and charities flourish, is the purposed end of the magnificence and'wealth of the 
creation.”— Rev. Austin S. Garver, in an article as found in a public journal of April , 1877. 

“ I have read and examined Mr. Caverly's poetical works with interest; and find them filled with 
effusions that seem to carry me back to other scenes and other times. In them is the freshness of 
the present mingling with the past, that seem to touch the life and experience of the many.” — 
Hon. Judge Joseph Howard, late of the Supreme Court of Maine. 

Caverly’s Epics and Lyrics, as noted from one of his Public Readings : — “ The greatest interest 
was exhibited by the audience as he progressed in his recital of a walk among the mounds that mark 
the resting places of fallen soldiers on the heights of Arlington, and while passing from his prologue, 
as he carried his listeners in fancy from Washington City over the Potomac and up the Heights, we 
could almost imagine we heard the solemn rustling of the trees, and could discern in the twilight the 
melancholy records of the battle. We could almost hear the stranger vdiom the writer met at the 
outset, dissuade him from.the visit by weird tales of ghosts and spectres. ...” — From Mr. Z. E. 
Stone, a celebrated Journalist. 

Of the author’s lessons of Law and Life from Eliot the Apostle : — “The author, in delineating 
the Apostle’s life, interweaves the history of.Nev r England in a brief and forcible manner, and 
learnedly follows out the conclusions and deductions of the story.” — Hon. John A. Goodwin, late 
of the Vox Populi. 

Of the author (and his works,) at one of his Public Readings : — “ He is fond of dressing up the 
quaint legends of the Aborigines in the language of poesy. The Bride of Burton, the Allegory of 
the Squirrel, and the Voice of Spring, are good examples of this work. The Golden Wedding v T as in 
a humorous strain, and caused a ripple of laughter to sw r eep over the audience as pictures of the 
olden New England life were drawn. The living voice and presence of the author are a great help in 
the enjoyment of his verse. The reader will find a fund of enjoyment in the perusal of his volumes. 
. . . . ” — Hon. George A. Marden, in Lowell Courier of Oct'. 26, 1871. 

On this subject, Rev. Elias Nason, the celebrated orator and author, says : — “ I have perused 
the Epics and Lyrics with keen and sympathetic pleasure, and I congratulate the author on the 
advanced record he has made in beating the sweet fields of poetry. Aside from the intrinsic merit 
of his muse, the local scenes and circumstances which he poetizes become a part of our own life and 
being; and thus in reading him we have the joy, not only of perusing tuneful numbers, but of seeing 
common things we know around us as by an enchanter’s wand transfigured into beauty.” 

Hon. Anderson Kirkwood, LL.D., in the Edinburgh Review, Scotland, says : — “ Both Ameri¬ 
cans and English have to thank Mr. Caverly for his laborious and interesting resume of those old 
Indian wars of New England.” 

“ Beautiful in expression and sentiment.” — Rev. Dr. N. Bouton, the Historian. 


Sold by B. B. RUSSELL, 57 CORNHILL, BOSTON. 




























































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GIANT OF THE WOODS. 































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Drama No. 4. .. . Battle of the Bush .— The Regicides. 


REGICIDES 

(n. E.) 

<Hn historical Drama. 

[YEARS 1640 TO 1676.] 


By ROBERT B. CAVERLY, 

i| 

Poet and Historian. 


DRAMATIS PERSONAS. 


William Goffe, 
Edward Whalley, 
John Dixwell, 

Sir Geo. Ayscue, . 


Regicides. 

Officer of the 
Crown. 


Jo Bradshawe . . . Ch. Judge. 
Michael McPherson, A Catholic. 
Dr. Drug. . . . A Churchman. 

King Charles I. 

The Duke of York. 

The Princess Elizabeth. 

Aunt Margery, j _ Dissenters. 
Jennie Geddes, ) 

Kianemo .... The Betrothed, 


Oliver Cromwell, The Protector. 
Messengers, 1 st and 2d. 

Nimrod. An Irishman. 

The King’s Constable. 

Mrs. Fleetwood, ) Daughters of 
Mrs. Claypole, . \ Cromwell. 
Richard . . . Son of Cromwell. 


Joice. A Captain. 

Naylor. A Quaker. 

Harrison, ) 

Peters, > ... Republicans. 

Jones, ) 


Leonora . . The Squaw Sachem. 

Sagamore Sam. 


attendants. 

Heroic Villagers of Hadley ; Old Israel, Tom, Noaii, Nathan, and 
Deacon Drown; a member of Parliament; a member of a Court; Mrs. 
Whitterwinkle, White, and Lesley. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1884. 



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VT ) (cK/ ^ 

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CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Charles I. — his Tragic Conflicts.197 

Factions in the Realm; Religious Frenzies.204-241 

Oliver Cromwell at the Head of the Army.202 

King Charles 1. tried by 70 Judges ; Beheaded.207-214 

Jennie Geddes, Spunk of ; Trouble in the Church.206 

The Queen Unfaithful; Grief of the Duke and Princess . . . .211-214 

Parliament, Long, dissolved by Cromwell; “ Seeking the Lord ” . . 215 

Death of Cromwell; Richar-d the Son, and Daughters .... 21S-221 

Naylor, a Quaker Intruder.220 

Richard — his Reign momentary.222 

Charles II. crowned King ..225-227 

The Regicides beheaded; some of them escape.228-241 

Goffe, Whalley, and Dixwell, escaping, arrive in New England .229-243 

Dr. Drug — his Patients, Prescriptions, and Skill.222-225 

A Ship lands, bringing the King’s Constables.229 

They seek the Regicides in Vain, they escape.229-232 

Kianemo seeks the Hand of Leonora, Squaw Sachem of Wachusett, 231 

Trial of Kianemo for Murder, and his Escape.232 

Goffe, at Hadley, leads in the Fight, driving the Tribes .... 235-236 

Villagers, and their Account of that Conflict.237 

Regicides at Leonora’s Tent, secreted, and by her protected . . 239-241 

Kianemo, by Leonora, commanded to kill the,King’s Constable . . 242 

King’s Constable misled, bewildered.242-244 

Pursued by Kianemo, crippled, he falters.245 

He falls at Leonora’s Tent, slain by Kianemo.246 

Lovewell, Paugus, and their Conflicts.193 


Copyright, 1884, by the Author. All Rights Reserved. 
























BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


LOVEWELL, PAUGUS, AND THfe REGICIDES. 

LEGENDARY. 

No incidental conflicts in New England’s primeval 
history were more heroic and heart-moving, than those 
of Captain John Lovewell against the Indians under 
Paugus. Lovewell, at the first, in 1724, had raised a 
company of thirty volunteers, and advancing north of 
Lake Winnipiseogee, found an Indian and a boy in a 
wigwam, killed the Indian, and, bringing the boy to 
Boston, received a bounty for the exploit, as well as a 
gratuity from the colonies. 

Afterwards, with seventy men, he again invaded the 
forest above the lake ; but thirty of his men, for the 
want of provisions, faltered and turned back; but the 
others advanced, and discovering a tribe which had en¬ 
camped for the night, they concealed themselves, and 
at midnight rose and fell in upon them, at the side of a 
pond. Lovewell fired first, and killed two. Five others 
fired, and then all the others, and then by this all the 
Indians but one were slain. He, being wounded, and 
trying to escape, was followed by a dog, and was held 
until he also was killed. This was at Lovewell’s Pond, 



194 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


in Wakefield, N. H., at the head of one of the branches 
of the Salmon Fall River. 

Belknap, the historian, says: “ This brave company, 
on February 24, 1625, with the ten scalps stretched on 
hoops, and elevated on poles, entered Dover (Cocheco) 
in triumph, and, proceeding to Boston, received the 
bounty of one hundred pounds for each, out of the pub¬ 
lic treasury.” 

And again, o# the sixteenth of April of that year, 
Lovewell, raising another company, numbering forty-six 
men, including a surgeon and a chaplain, he again ad¬ 
vanced into the forests of the northeast as before. Two 
of the men becoming lame, and one falling sick, were 
left behind with the surgeon, in a stockade fort on the 
west side of the great Ossipee Pond ; together with eight 
men, who were also left there as a guard. The remain¬ 
ing thirty-four men, led by Lovewell, advanced onward 
about twenty-two miles, and encamped on the shore of 
a pond. In the morning, while at their devotions, they, 
hearing the report of a gun, discovered an Indian on a 
point of land extending into the pond, nearly a mile 
away. Thereupon they marched off in the direction of 
the Indian, first disencumbering themselves of their 
knapsacks, leaving them there on the northeast end of 
the pond, without a guard. 

It appeared that LovewelPs march had crossed a 
carrying-place, wherein Paugus and Wahwa, with forty- 
one warriors from Saco River, were about returning to 
the lower village of Pequaket, it being distant about a 
mile and a half from this pond. 

Discovering the track of Lovewell, they traced it 
bade to the packs, counting them, and ascertaining the 




LOVEWELL, PAUGUS, AND THE REGICIDES. 195 

number of the enemy to be less than their own tribe, 
they placed themselves in ambush, and awaited Love- 
well’s return. 

Lovewell, while away, again discovering the Indian 
from the point of land, fired at him ; but, missing him, 
he returned their fire with small shot, wounding the 
Captain and one of his men. But Lieutenant Wyman, 
firing again, killed the Indian, and took his scalp. 

They then returning for their packs, the Indians arose 
and assailed them with firelocks, and yells terrific. 
Captain Lovewell was killed at the onset. Lieutenant 
Farwell and two others were wounded. Several of the 
Indians fell; but, seeing their superiority of numbers, 
Lovewell’s men took positions behind rocks and trees. 
On their right was the mouth of a brook, on their left 
a rocky point. Their front was covered partly by a 
deep bog, with the pond in their rear; and there they 
continued the fight for a long time. 

Jonathan Frye, Ensign Robbins, and one other were 
mortally wounded ; yet they continued the conflict up to 
near the night, when the Indians left the ground, car¬ 
rying away their killed and wounded, and leaving the 
dead bodies of Lovewell and others unscalped. 

Of the remnant of this brave force of settlers, three 
were unable to leave the spot, eleven others were 
wounded, but able to march, and nine only had re¬ 
ceived no injury. It was sad to leave their three 
wounded companions in the wilderness, but the fates 
had so ordered it. One of them, Ensign Robbins, 
directed that his gun should be left at his side charged, 
so that if the enemy returned, he might kill one more 
of them. 




196 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


This was on the 8th of May, at night. When they 
left the ground, the moon had cast its light upon the 
fatal spot, and had begun to light their way through 
the wilderness towards the fort where their comrades, 
the surgeon, and guard had been left. And it appears 
Robbins, Lieutenant Farwell, and the Chaplain, thus 
perished in the woods, while the survivors, after suffer¬ 
ing the most severe hardships, wandered back, arriving 
one after another into the lonely fort. Fourteen only 
of Lovewell’s forty-six men lived to find their way back 
to their cots or cabins in old Dunstable. 

A generous provision was made for the widows and 
children of the slain. Lands by the Commonwealth 
were given to the survivors, one tract now takes the 
name of Pembroke, N. H. 

Soon after this battle Colonel Tyng, of Dunstable, 
visited that battle-ground, buried the bodies of twelve 
of the company, carved their names upon the trees 
there, and then left them alone again, in the dark, deep 
forest, to a peaceful, quiet repose. A considerable 
time after this dread conflict, wherein both Paugus and 
Lovewell fell, a temporary treaty was negotiated under 
Governor Dummer’s administration, with the Norridge- 
wocks, Penobscots, St. Johns, and Cape Sable Indians. 
This treaty was ratified Aug. 5, 1726. Anon, for a 
while, there are better days, — 

And peace, —that welcome harbinger of health, 

Of generous thrift, foreshadowing weal and wealth,—. 

Brings her glad-tidings down, and cheers the land 
With prompt good will, and noble deeds at hand; 

To heal the broken heart, to make amends, 

For wilful waste that from the past descends. 



MAID AT THE WHEEL. 





















































































I 

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LOVEWELL, PAUGUS, AND THE REGICIDES. I97 


Thence this fair vale from mountain to the main, 
In vernal grandeur buds to bloom again ; 

And plenteous harvest with her golden ears, 
Crowning the prudence of progressive years, 
Adorns the field, and grace triumphant gives 
To honest toil. . . . 


LEGEND NO. 4. 

[The King , Cromwell , and their Conflicts. A true 
story of the royal fugitives, — William Goffe, Edmund 
Whalley, and John Dixivelll\ 

In the following Drama we have noted the English¬ 
men above named, and have extended particularly some 
of the dread events which happened at their hands and 
against them both in England and America. 

They had been known as Regicides, who, among 
others, one hundred in all, acting in the capacity of 
judges, had beheaded King Charles I., under the 
leadership of Oliver Cromwell. And when the British 
government had again changed, Oliver Cromwell being 
dead, and Charles II. being crowned King, these men, 
then being pursued as murderers of his father, escaped 
from England, and arrived at Boston in July, 1660. 
They were regarded as gentlemen of worth, were of 
dignified manners and appearance, were esteemed of 
the Colonists, and were pious, commanding much re¬ 
spect. Whalley had been a lieutenant-general under 
Cromwell, and Goffe a major-general in the same army. 
An order from King Charles II. for their apprehension 
reached New England soon after their arrival here; 
and to avoid the King’s Commissioners, then eager to 
execute this order, these Judges hastily resorted to the 
woods and to the caves of the earth for concealment. 







198 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Several of their associate judges had already been 
caught by the king’s constables and executed in Eng¬ 
land ; yet the Colonists had a care and a disposition to 
favor these fugitives who had sought an asylum on 
these shores. At one time they occupied a cave on 
West Rock, about two miles from New Haven ; at an¬ 
other, they dwelt secreted under a bridge, while their 
pursuers crossed it on horseback; at other times they 
found refuge in rude cellars and garrets, and although 
much troubled, fortune usually turned in their favor. 

At length, after a concealment of about three years 
and a half at New Haven and its vicinity, they, on Oct. 
13, 1664, left there for Hadley, Massachusetts, one 
hundred miles distant, travelled by night, and took up 
their abode there at the house of John Russell, a 
friendly clergyman of that village. The house was well 
suited to the reception and secretion of the judges. 
“ The east chamber was assigned for their residence, 
from which a door opened into a closet back of the 
chimney, and a secret trap-door communicated with an 
under closet, from which was a private passage to the 
cellar, into which it was easy to descend in case of a 
search.” • 

“ Here, unknown to the people of Hadley, excepting 
to a few confidants and the family of Mr. Russell, the 
Judges remained fifteen or sixteen years. These Judges 
were confidentially known at the time by a Mr. Smith, 
who also admitted them occasionally to his house in 
Hadley. They were also favored by a Mr. Tilton, then 
often in Boston as a member of the General Court from 
Hadley,” through whom donations from their friends in 
England and elsewhere were, from time to time, re- 


\ 


LOVEWELL, PAUGUS, AND THE REGICIDES. I99 

ceived by the Judges. During his residence in Hadley, 
Goft'e held a correspondence with his wife in England 
under a fictitious name. By one of the letters, dated 
April 2, 1679, it appears Whalley had died at Mr. Rus¬ 
sell’s residence some time previously. He was buried 
in a small tomb of mason work, just without the cellar- 
wall of the Russell house. Much later, in 1794, the 
bones of this Regicide were found there by a Mr. 
Gaylord, who erected a house on the same premises. 
Soon after the decease of Whalley, Goffe, as appears, 
left Hadley and journeyed to the south. Afterwards 
no certain news was heard of him. “ Not long after 
the arrival of these two Regicides at Hadley, Colonel 
John Dixwell, another of the judges, joined them at 
Mr. Russell’s, and resided there for awhile. He after¬ 
wards settled at New Haven, Conn., under the assumed 
name of Davids, where he died in 1689. 

During Philip’s war these men, as appears, were still 
secreted in Hadley. In 1776 this town, at one time, 
was attacked by about seven hundred Indians. Over 
night the Indians had approached it, had laid an am¬ 
buscade at its southern extremity, and advanced the 
main body towards the other, and at daylight, as was 
their custom, “ the attack was commenced, with great 
spirit; ” but the English turning out, received them at 
the palisades. 

The Indians gained possession of a house at the north 
end of the street, and fired a barn, but were in a short 
time driven back, with loss. The attack was renewed, 
on other points, and the Indians, though warmly op¬ 
posed, appeared determined on carrying the place ; but 
a discharge of a piece of ordinance checked their fury, 


200 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


and their ambuscade failing of its object, which was to 
surprise the people who might be driven from the 
village, they faltered, and fled away.* “At this mo¬ 
ment,” says Dr. Dwight, “ an ancient man, with hoary 
locks, of a most venerable and dignified aspect, and in 
a dress widely differing from that of the inhabitants, 
appeared suddenly at their head, and with a firm voice, 
and an example of undaunted resolution, reanimated 
their spirits, led them again to the conflict, and totally 
routed the savages. When the battle was ended the 
stranger disappeared; and no person knew whence he 
had come nor whither he had gone. 

The relief was so timely, so sudden, so unexpected, 
and so providential, the appearance and the retreat of 
him who furnished it were so unaccountable, his person 
was so dignified and commanding, his resolution so supe¬ 
rior, and his interference so decisive, that the inhabitants, 
without any uncommon exercise of credulity, readily 
believed him to be an angel, sent by Heaven for their 
preservation. Nor was this opinion seriously contro¬ 
verted until it was discovered, several years afterward, 
that Goffe and Whalley had been lodged in the house 
of Mr. Russell. Then it was known that their deliverer 
was Goffe. Whalley had, as it is said, become super¬ 
annuated, some time before this event took place. 

In the following drama, No. IV., further and more 
specific accounts of the secluded, fearful lives of these 
venerable regicides will occasionally appear, — as how, 
through life, they were pursued in our New England 
wilderness by the king’s constables; how they 

* See Nason’s Mass. Gazetteer, page 240. 


were 


LOVEWELL, PAUGUS, AND THE REGICIDES. 201 


secreted, fought for, and defended, from time to time, 
by Leonora, the celebrated squaw-sachem of Wachusett; 
and how this squaw, then young and energetic, assisted 
by her betrothed lover, Ki-a-nemo, had fought for and 
had given the Regicides a safe deliverance from the 
constables of an angry king, seeking blood ; and how 
in the old world, cruelty and crime as a prelude to this 
had cropped out, dividing the kingdoms into discordant 
factions, in the midst of which the bitter passions of 
men predominated, and the wildest fanaticisms and 
combinations became rabid in the conflict; and how 
from all this, Parliament in its demoralizations and dis¬ 
tractions had invaded the prerogatives of the throne, 
imposing restraints upon the royal actions of Charles I., 
to a genera] disorganization ; and how the armies, the 
churches, and the people at large, had become dis¬ 
tracted, all at loggerheads, faction against faction, 
power against power, without the restraints of Parlia¬ 
ment, of the King, or of laws; and how Oliver Crom¬ 
well and his court of seventy judges, arrested, tried, 
convicted, and beheaded the King, drove out Parlia¬ 
ment, and terminated that kingdom ; and how by force 
of the armies for seven years he held and ruled England; 
and, at his death, how. the judges whose mandates had 
beheaded the King, being in the end (many of them) 
hunted down, and themselves executed, shall appear. 


THE REGICIDES. 


ACT I. 

Scene I. — A Council Chamber in Lo?ido?i, and Crom¬ 
well alone. 

Cromwell . This heart and this head of mine are 
painful. To me, as well as to the realm, the times 
indeed are troublesome. Treason lurks in the king’s 
councils; the royal Charles, himself, is a traitor. 
Kingly traitors, as many say, ought to be dethroned. 
Yonder doth London’s tower open her crimson gates 
wide for traitors; and the bloody axe, uplifted, impa¬ 
tiently awaits their coming. \Enter Bradshawe.] Ah, 
welcome, my valiant hero and friend, Bradshawe. Brad¬ 
shawe, thy appointment is to be one of the hundred 
judges, hereafter to be nominated, to try King Charles 
for treachery, — for high treason against Parliament, 
and against the people of this realm. And you, Brad¬ 
shawe, will preside over the court. 

Bradshawe. But under the laws of England, my 
dear Cromwell, by what right can a king be tried ? 
How can his majesty be thus assailed, who, by our great 
charter of rights, can do no wrong ? 

This, it appears to me, is an insurmountable barrier. 

That kings can do no wrong, is a maxim. 


202 




THE REGICIDES. 


203 


It is the great primeval starting point to all governments, 
and all grades of governments. How then, O Crom¬ 
well, is this great obstacle, riveted as it is in the public 
mind, to be overcome ? 

Cromwell. Ah, my lord, granted, it may be, that a 
king — who is a king under the law, and in the eyes of 
a generous people—can do no wrong, and that this 
your principle, in all and every organization of govern¬ 
ments, is sound, and is ever to be adhered to, — and 
should be carried out. I grant that the king, as well as 
every other leader, from the throne down through all 
the grades of government, even to the father of a 
family, are to stand honored and respected by their 
dependents as being powerless to do wrong. 

A government instituted and sustained on this grand 
old principle will always stand and prosper ; otherwise, 
by or through frenzy and faction, divided against itself, 
it must fall. Thus, my lord, I concede the principle. 
But allow me, in my own opinion, to declare that Charles 
the First, being opposed to Parliament and the people, 
for years has not been, and is not now king, save in 
proclamation and fictitious form. 

Bradshawe. Well said, my lord. Yet Charles has 
the title of a king, wears the crown of a king, and still 
lives in the place of a king. 

Cromwell. Hardly that, most noble lord. He has 
been a king, but through duplicity and deceit; he has 
made merchandise of all that is manly in himself, or 
profitable to the public. For all this, he is distracted, 
flying hither and thither for safety. His armies are 
divided, and his Parliament have severed themselves 
from his sovereignty, seeking to depose him. Surely a 


204 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


conflict is portending. Rivers of blood will flow in 
upon us if Charles is suffered to live. Up, then, my 
lord, and let this great people bestir themselves. 

[Exit Cromwell. Enter Dr. Drug. 

Bradshawe. Ah, my dear doctor, how fare you ? 
How do these agitations in the commonwealth appear 
to ye ? 

Dr. Drug. They appear rash. I am opposed to all 
fanatics. Nay, I am opposed to all religions save that 
of the true church. By this soul of mine, I abominate, 
I hate the queen, in her Protestantism, who is an Aus¬ 
trian. On the contrary, I magnify Charles, the king, in 
the fervent faith of his sovereignty. 

Bradshawe . True, but the factions with which gov¬ 
ernment has to grapple are antagonistic, — they per¬ 
vading England, Scotland, and Ireland, are numerous 
and strong. You, doctor, are a believer in the Church 
of England, another is an advocate for the Catholicism 
of Ireland, another would take sides with the Protestant 
dissenters of Scotland. Many hate the king, many the 
queen, and very many the Parliament; and many are 
the outspoken complaints against all these in the armies 
of which Cromwell is chief. 

Dr. Drug. Thou speakest truth, my lord ; but thou 
knowest it hath been revealed there is but one church, 
and that church, as I am prepared to prove, is this, our 
Church of England. This is in exact accordance with 
the doctrines of divine writ, and to the creed of the 
church. [Exit Drug. Enter McPherson. 

Bradshawe. How now, McPherson; what appear¬ 
ances have ye for peace ? You, I am thinking, are rec¬ 
onciled to the royal house of Charles. 


THE REGICIDES. 


205 


McPherson (Irish). And what is that, pray? A 
house, is it, that your holiness is speaking about ? Ah, 
I see ! and faith, and the king has no religion, not a bit 
of it. And I, meself, am a Catholic, and why shouldn’t 
meself dislike the king ? 

Bradshawe. I was not inquiring for your faith, sir, 
but whether you and your race think favorably of the 
king ? 

McPherson. And what, indeed, does your lordship 
mean by that ? A divil of a bit of favor do I ask of 
him. In all I’ve heerd of him he has proved himself 
a tyrant and a blackguard. He’s indade a traitor, and, 
your holiness, I’m told he is about plotting against our 
holy Catholic faith, and the Virgin Mary. 

Bradshawe. Yea, true it is; the crown is in trouble. 
Parliament is opposed to his majesty. War in Ireland, 
war in Scotland. The church, the Catholics, and the 
dissenters are all at loggerheads. [Exit. 

[A sudden ringing of church hells is here heard, and the 
People , who have been dropping in to its door , now appear 
as if to fill the adjoining church .] \Curtain. 

Scene II. — The inside of an old Church , with seats of 

three-legged stools. 

McPherson (alone). In this place, it would same to 
me, the Protestants are more than the church people. 
They assemble here. And true, it is the bishop is per¬ 
sistent ; and here, too, there is a conflict. [Enter 
Jennie Geddes.] Who comes? Ah,’tis Aunt Jennie! 
How fare ye ? You still are adhering to your true Pro¬ 
testant faith. Indade, ye are, and ye are coming to 
church. 


20 6 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Jennie. Most assuredly. My faith never, never fail- 
eth. Although a martyr I may perish, I in truth dis¬ 
sent. A dissenter, I protest against the forms of a 
pretended, spurious holiness. The God we worship 
requires no idle outside show; no forms, no broad 
phylacteries. \Entcr Margery.] But here is my sis¬ 
ter in the faith. Come, Margery, let us enter the tem¬ 
ple, for the hour hath come, and here will we worship 
in the beauty of holiness. Oh come, let us sing. 

Singi?ig in chorus. 

Shout, shout, we ’re gaining ground, 

Satan’s kingdom is coming down, 

Halle — hallelujah! 

Firm in faith to the cross we cling, 

Up we’re moving on the wing, 

Glory hallelujah. 

Chorus. — Shout, etc. 

Up to heaven our voices blend, 

High aloft our prayers ascend, 

Halle—Hallelujah. 

Chorus. — Shout, we ’re gaining ground, 

Ilalle — hallelujah! 

Satan’s kingdom is tumbling down, 

Glory hallelujah! 

\Music.\ 

Scene III.— Same. Open church , low pulpit. 

Margery ( rising up). It is commanded in our books 
of revealed truth as if to say, “ Come unto me all ye 
that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give ye rest.” 
This is glorious; yet in all his gifts the Great Divine 
hath given to us all aspirations to advance and to labor 
in his great works. 


THE REGICIDES. 


207 


[. Entered, the Bishop ascending the pulpit, is kneeling. 
Soon then, hook in hand , he begins to read a prayer, at 
which all rise, furiously exclaiming ] : 

Ungodliness ! ungodliness ! ’T is an abomination ! 
Out upon all your forms and ceremonies! {The priest 
seeking safety in flight, Jennie, seizing a stool, hurls it 
with a vengca?ice at his priestly head; all pursuing him, 
vociferously giving him battle, following, boosting him 
out of the window .) [ Curtain . 

Scene IV.— Hamilton Court. Royal Palace. King 
Charles I. soliloquizing. 

King. Herein there is much doubt, much dismay. 
These religions of the realm distract my senses. These 
church quarrels — so daring, so desperate, and so fatal 
— are not mine; not mine in the beginning; not mine 
in their conflicting augmentations. Yet the shafts of 
the conflict are all made to fall, aimed as they are, upon 
my own head. Treason still lurks in the armies of the 
Crown, with factious notions and religious frenzies; 
taking wings, they, like a pestilence, fill the air. 

[Enter McPherson. 

McPherson. Tidings, tidings, your Majesty. The 
great Parliament hath voted and have taken away yr 
Majesty’s prerogatives. Indade, the Lords and the 
Commons have all become rebels. And by faith, and 
the Earl of Essex has been made their chief officer, 
threatening the Crown, and making war in the midst of 
your Majesty’s forces. 

King. Traitors they live ! Traitors they ’ll die, full 
of treason. To arms, to arms, will I call all my loyal 
subjects. At Leicester, at Naseby, at Winchester, at 


20 S 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Marston Moor, at New Castle, I ’ll give that Parliament 
battle. Meanwhile, London shall be fortified. 

McPherson. But be assured there is danger to the 
throne. Cromwell (and faith he distrusts ye) reigns. 
Flee for your life, away. The deceptive subterfuges of 
past years, vacillating doth betray thee! Thy foes 
concentrate to torment thee; and faith, ye may well 
believe, ye ’d better fly. [Exit. 

[Thence out goes the King, attended by John Berkley, 
Ashburnham, and Legge, lurking about in disguise con¬ 
cealing himself — and thence he flies to the Isle of JFight 
and Hammond , where afterwards Cromwell's officers take 
and imprison him in Carisbroke Castle .] 

[Music.] 

Scene V. — An army tent with a military court. 
The King secured elsewhere. Enter Cromwell and 
President of Court. 

Cromwell. Gentlemen, Officers. Understanding a 
disaffection exists in the army, Ireton and Fleetwood, 
my generals, were delegated of the Long Parliament to 
inquire into the cause of impending disorders. 

Preside?it of the Court. General, we have deliberated 
upon that matter, and find the soldiers, in the main, to 
be the authors of their own discontents, fomented only 
by a distracted Parliament and the duplicity of a king. 

Cromwell. Then let five hundred horsemen move 
upon the King, under the command of Joice. ( Here 
breaks in from without a shrill sound of trumpets.') 

[.Martial Music.] 


THE REGICIDES. 


209 


Scene VI.— A Prison, and King Charles I. within it. 

King. Here am I, a king in bonds ; a king who can 
do no wrong; a king not knowing for what cause nor 
by what laws I am thus incarcerated. 

{Enter Joice, pistol in hand, with a platoon of soldiers. 

Joice ( pointing directly to the King). Forward ! 

King. Whither ? 

Joice. To the army. 

King. By what warrant ? 

Joice. ( Silent, but pointing back to his soldiers). 

King (smiling). Your warrant is writ in fair char¬ 
acters, legible without spelling. (At sound of horn and 
trumpet they move away.) {Curtain. Music. 

Scene VII. —Army tent again. Present Cromwell; 
and Bradshawe in scarlet. 

Cromwell. How is this, Bradshawe ? What is your 
opinion ? The King stood in the way of the Longf 
Parliament, and now the King is secure. The Long 
Parliament stands in the way of the people and of the 
armies of this realm. The King being at our disposal, 
what next shall be done with the Long Parliament, 
whose deadly usurpations are proving fatal to England’s 
peace and prosperity. 

Bradshawe. This Parliament hath made the power 
of the King a nullity. That body has no power of it¬ 
self, and there is none left in the King, if we had one. 
Hence, if we had a king he would be a king without 
power, and Parliament is powerless without any con¬ 
sent of the people or of England’s armies. 

Cromwell. Up, then! Let the ringleaders in the 


210 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


army now plotting against my orders be instantly tried 
and shot. Let Charles be dethroned, — beheaded if 
need be, —and let the House of Commons, now usur¬ 
pers without right or power, be dissolved; and let this 
government once again return to its wonted authority 
and prosperity. But Bradshawe, take care in the mean¬ 
time; it is our own counsels we are to keep. [Enter 
Pride.] Ah, here is Pride, my gallant general officer 
of the army. Pride, take two regiments of infantry, 
choice soldiers. March forth, surround the House of 
Commons ; seize and imprison the Presbyterians ; ex¬ 
clude all others. Allow none to enter but the Indepen¬ 
dents, my council of officers well disposed and deter¬ 
mined, and let that House be purged of its poisons. 
[Trumpets sound without .] [Exit. Curtain. 

Scene VIII.— King’s Quarters. Present members of 
his family ( Scotland ). Enter Joice and soldiers. 

Joice. I have to announce to your Majesty that the 
government has declared it to be treason in the king 
that he hath levied war against the parliament of the 
people. 

King (aside to his attendants). But how, and by what 
law, can any such decree be executed ? since a sovereign, 
in law, can do no wrong. 

joice. I understand this to be a movement of the 
people, upon the ground, assumed, that the people are 
the origin of all just and legal power. Hence the Com¬ 
mons have voted and declared that they are the repre¬ 
sentatives of the people; and that their enactments 
have, in this regard, the force of law, without the con¬ 
sent of king or peers. 


THE REGICIDES. 


211 


King (aside ). I am to understand from this, assassi¬ 
nation is intended. But, Colonel, what is the intent of 
your mission ? 

Joice. I am commissioned to conduct your majesty 
to London. 

King. Colonel, what I demand, is your warrant. 

Joice. The warrant is in writing ( producing the paper). 
The offence of levying war against Parliament is herein 
charged against your Majesty; and a high court, of one 
hundred and thirty judges, has been constituted to sit 
at your Majesty’s trial. Hence you will prepare, as I 
must now advance with your Majesty to Westminster Hall. 
( The King here seizes and embraces his little son [the Duke 
of Gloucester , nine years of age ]; next his young daughter 
[the Princess Elizabeth, then thirteen years of age\ falls 
upon his neck, embracing him ; and then the cold embrace of 
an unfaithful wife; and then the King steps to his place 
between the files of soldiers.) 

Joice. Forward ! For Westminster. 

Soldiers {exclaiming simultaneously). Justice! Jus¬ 
tice ! 

King. Poor souls! For a little money they would 
do as much against their commanders. 

[Exeunt, with martial music and trumpets in the distance?) 

[Music?) 

Scene IX. — Same. Present McPherson. Enter 

Messenger. 

Messenger. I would see the queen. I am told to 
announce to her that the Grand Court of England is in 
session on the trial for treason of King Charles. 

McPherson. And faith, and the queen cannot now be 


212 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


seen, not at all, at all. She is at her love-feast, in the 
east room, with an intimate lord. And sure it would be 
bad luck to meself to interrupt the quane in the least 
bit of a mite, at all. 

Messenger. But my message would be of great inter¬ 
est to her. 

McPherson. No, and be faith, but do ye think that 
your message is better than Lord Lovewell’s business ? 
Not at all, at all. 

Messenger. But tell her I have a message from her 
liege lord, King Charles. And haste ! ’T is the king’s 
business. 

McPherson. Haste! Do ye mean to insult me? 
And faith, there’s nobody’s business that requires more 
haste than Lord Lovewell’s. And I ’ll not interrupt 
the quane with her lord, not at all, at all; and ye must 
wait. 

Messenger. If not the queen, then may I be per¬ 
mitted to the presence of Princess Fdizabeth, and the 
young duke. 

McPherson. Oh, yes; they are the true son and 
daughter of King Charles. Indade how he hath loved 
um ! The young duke is the exact image of his dear 
father. ( A slide opens 1o /hem.) You shall see them. 
(Introducing them!) This is the princess. \Exit. 

Messenger. Dear Princess, I am here to announce to 
your mother the queen, and to yourselves, the sad intel¬ 
ligence that his Majesty is now being tried by the High 
Court for treason, the court having long been in session. 
{Princess bringing her kerchief to her tears.) 

Princess. What, sir, hath agitated this? Who is it, 
that seeks the life of my dear, dear father, the King of 


THE REGICIDES. 


213 


England ? How could he be guilty of a wrong ? By 
what right does such an accusation come ? Whence, oh 
whence, these threatenings of death, which are to make 
me an orphan ? Leave me alone (weeding), leave me 
alone ! alone ! alone ! 

Messenger. Weep not, my fair princess. This per¬ 
turbation must be of but short duration. It cometh like 
a tidal wave. ’T is a movement of the people, and may 
soon, like the ocean tide, set backward. This trial, the 
populace have willed it, and thus it happens. 

Young Duke. But what had my dear father done to 
provoke the people ? 

Messenger. He is charged of having levied war 
against Parliament, and’t is for this treason he is being 
tried for his life. And from him I’ve come, making the 
announcement of his dread danger. 

Young Duke. My dear father being tried for his life, 
do you say, sir ? Do armed soldiers stand around him ? 
Will they lock him up in a dungeon of the Tower ? Oh 
dear, dear! Will they kill him with the bloody axe? 

Messenger. Oh, no ; he is being tried at Westminster 
Hall. ’T is not at the Tower. 

Princess. Tell me, oh tell me, that I may know, for 
what is the trial had ? What, oh what, has my father 
done, that they in anger should seek his blood (weeping , 
and embracing him ) ? 

Young Duke (standing up ambitiously). War, war 
we ’ll have ! I ’ll go with you. / 7/ levy war upon Par¬ 
liament ! I ’ll defend, 1 ’ll defend the crown. I ’ll smite 
the enemies of my dear old father. Away ! away ! I ’ll 
go with thee. Let us go. 

Messenger. Ah, vain youth, thou art ambitious, but 


214 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


thou art powerless now. Yet the time may come when 
thou mayest be a king thyself. 

Princess. Stay, my dear young brother. Thou art a 
duke. Stay, thy life here is now safe, but how long my 
poor head, or thine own dear life, shall be safe after my 
own dear, dear father is murdered, we know not. Stay, 
and let us take counsel of our seniors. But, oh where 
is my dear mother? Thrice called, but does not come. 
Alas! alas! 

Messenger. Ah! Obviously her love is not royal, 
but lordly. Give her the message. Adieu ! adieu ! 

[Exit. Enter McPherson. 

McPherson. And faith,, and they have taken the 
King away from the trial, and they are about going 
away to murther him at the street of White Hall. 
Mizerable blackguards! Bad luck to um ! Bad luck 
to the murtherers, to ivery mother’s son of um. But I 
must keep safe this ould castle, or me own head will 
come off. Ah, list! what is that ? ( Sound of trumpets 

and martial music without .) And faith it is now the 
time they are after about murthering the King himself, 
.bad luck to the bloody blackguards ! 

\ A dirge .] 

[Curtain rises, unveiling as in tableau the death scene 
of the King on the scaffold in the street, attended by the 
executioner masked, priest and others, and Bradshawe in 
costume of scarlet, dirge still being played .] 


ACT II. 


Scene I. — Cromwell at the door of Parliament. 

Cromwell. This Parliament is jealous of my power, 
and now that Charles is dead, it is fit that the soldiery 
should have a care for the people, and for Parliament 
in behalf of the people. \Enter White in uniform , 
followed by soldiers .] White, come forth with your in¬ 
fantry; place soldiers at the door; one hundred men in 
the lobby, and one hundred on the stairway, and I will 
enter and will proclaim to them of their tyranny and 
oppression as vile usurpers. [Cromwell passes in. 

Lesley , alias Dr. Drug. Shame on that Cromwell, 
— that Agag, that tyrant in superstition and knavery. 
The Lord has hid his face from Jacob, only for awhile. 
Out upon Cromwell! Drive him away! Drive him 
away! As he hath intended to embark for the new 
world, drive him away. Send him seaward. [ Curtain . 

\Enter White, as the curtain rising discloses the en¬ 
trance to Parliament .] 

White. What seek ye here ? 

A Member. We are seeking the Lord. 

White. What ? In Parliament, seeking the Lord ? 

Member. Yes. 

White. Well then, then you may go. The Lord 
has n’t been here for years. [Member passes out. 

215 


216 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Lesley. But why should we be deposed ? We are 
the true Parliament chosen by the people. 

White. I too am chosen by the people, the Almighty 
God, and Oliver Cromwell. Thou art among those 
that stand condemned of the people as being hypocrites, 
perjurers, and tyrants and devils. Depart then from 
these walls, and make room, yielding to the sovereign 
will of this nation, and to the will of God himself, and 
of Cromwell, the great defender of this realm. Depart. 

Lesley. Well, then, it is might that makes this move¬ 
ment right. We vacate at the xdill of Oliver Cromwell, 
and Parliament is dissolved. {All, rising , driven by 
Cromwell (within), are beginning to press out of the door.) 

[' Curtain. Music. 

Scene II. —A mansion. 

Richard (son of Cromwell , alone). The long seven 
years of the Commonwealth are now nearly passed. 
Short and tardy its months have seemed to me, — a 
dream. It is not strange, however, that intervening 
conflicts and cares, which have oft afflicted the Com¬ 
monwealth, should seemingly accelerate time in its 
flight. Yet have we, in the meantime, been blessed 
with congratulations from the army, from the naval 
fleets, and from the many and vast corporations of the 
Realm, and from all the congregations of the saints. 
Thence hath the nation been made glad in peace, in 
better manners, and in its progressions. And thus 
Cromwell, my venerable father, hath crowned his Com¬ 
monwealth to a saving success. But the years of his 
servitude as Protector of England are hanging heavily 
• upon him. [ Enter Dr. Drug.] Good morrow, Dr. 


THE REGICIDES. 


21 / 


Drug. I have just been contemplating, as in a review 
of the past, the progress of this, our Christian Common¬ 
wealth, in its duration of nearly seven years. How 
do you prosper, sir? 

Dr. Drug. Prosper! Not a bit of it. How can a 
subject prosper when he can have no faith in his gov¬ 
ernment. No confidence in a Commonwealth or a 
Cromwell, though it may be treason to proclaim it. I 
am outspoken. True, in me own belief, if you would 
have permanent peace and prosperity, the government 
must be restored to a kingdom. 

Richard. But you had a kingdom; yet it divided 
itself into direst distractions, and it fell from its own 
infirmities. It was sick, it was sinking, and there was 
no hope for mortals within it, but in a Commonwealth 
and a Cromwell. 

Dr. Drug. True! but if I’d had me own will in 
those years of horror, I would have hanged the Dissen¬ 
ters, every mother’s son of um, and would have given 
the crown to sweet Ireland. And then, indade, it 
would have been bad luck to the English snobs, owners 
of the sile. [Exit Richard. Enter Jennie Geddes.] 
Ah, Jennie, it is you. Come in. We hail you as 
friendly to the Holy Catholic faith, and as against 
Cromwell and his adherents. 

Jemlie. Oh, no ! I still maintain my own true wor¬ 
ship. I am neither Catholic, Episcopal, Quaker, or 
Protestant. My faith is in the God of Israel; mine the 
religion of old Scotia. An Independent, my cares are 
for my kindred, my prayers outspoken are unwritten, 
and my hope is in Heaven and Oliver Cromwell. (And 
she sings) — 


2 l8 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Shout! shout! we ’re a-gaining ground, — 

Halle-halle-lujah! 

Satan’s kingdom is tumbling down,— 

Glory hallelujah! 

Dr. Drug. Inclade, Jennie, you are too gay for 
comfort. I take thee as thou art, an Independent. 
But soon shall ye see Cromwell’s administration as 
Supreme Protector of England ended. In case of his 
demise it will terminate with his life. I have dreams 
of it. But come now, Jennie, as you are in the mood of 
it, inspire us, yes, elate us, with another song. 

Jennie (singing in the same strain ) — 

Shout! Shout! we ’re a-gaining ground, — 

Halle-halle-lujah! 

The Devil’s kingdom is coming down,— 

Glory hallelujah! 

-* -* * -* • -* 

Scene III. — Cromwell alone , at his headquarters , his 
locks gray , his armor , his sword , pistols by his side , and 
guards at the door. 

Cromwell ( lights half extinguished'). The seven years 
of government, loading these locks of mine with frosts 
of winter, have vanished, vanished ; as if we had all, 
meanwhile, been slumbering. Time, with its multi¬ 
farious happenings, hath imperceptibly advanced, as 
if the mind had been entranced in a dream. This 
is indeed a dreary night. My government is liable to 
accidents. Fanaticisms compass me about. Treachery 
tries to mislead and betray me. Not long do I sleep in a 
place. I return not on the same road. I trust no 
stranger. A strong armor adheres to this frail body of 
mine. Vigilant guards, attentive daily and nightly, are 


THE REGICIDES. 


219 


the insurers of life. [ Enter Mrs. Claypole.] Who 
comes ? Ah, it is my dear, dear daughter ( she flics to 
him , embracing him). Daughter, why are you here, at 
this late hour ? 

Mrs. Claypole. Ah, my dear father, I have come to 
beseech your clemency, that you may spare the life of 
my dear friend, Dr. Huet. 

Cromwell. Oh, how common to those who are most 
dear to distract me with vain behests ! I am surrounded 
with spies, eager for the overthrow of my government. 
On my mandates, and the sure penalties of violated law, 
the peace and well-being of three kingdoms depend. 
The treachery of one man unpunished, though he be 
thy friend, may effect the downfall of all. Nay, the 
continuation of the life of thy friend might cause the 
loss of mine and thine. Be assured, dear daughter, I 
am the Protector of this realm, never to sanction an 
unjust penalty, forever meditating the greatest good to 
the greatest number. Every consideration has to yield 
to that end. That your father, as Protector of England, 
should act from his own sympathy, as it moves him, or 
from thine, is but impossible. 

Mrs. Claypole. Then I fear the court’s decree will 
be executed; and hence that your dear daughter, now 
in declining health, will perish also. Dear father, 
adieu. 

Cromwell. Adieu! and may God bless you. Ah, 
[Enter Mrs. Fleetwood, embracmg him], another 
daughter! 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Father, sad it is to me to find you 
melancholy. It is meet that the sovereign of a great 
realm should be cheerful. 


220 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Cromwell. But how, my dear, can this heart of 
mine, incased with an iron shield, be cheerful ? In the 
midst of tyrants and assassins, in the midst of conflicts, 
in the midst of dynasties, royal, clerical, and layical, in 
the midst of multifarious combinations and cruel con¬ 
spiracies, all tending to distraction and disorganization, 
who that has a heart of humanity can be cheerful ? 
Nay, dear daughter, ask cheerfulness from the gates of 
death, not from thy father, whose right arm, for seven 
years, through much blood, from necessity, hath held 
these three kingdoms, amid the wild infatuation of the 
times, from impending ruin. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Would it not be more practical, and 
easier to be administered, were you to give your gov¬ 
ernment a republican form? 

Cromwell. Indeed, that would be well ; but as yet 
this people are in no way prepared for such a govern¬ 
ment. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. From this, the many crushing cares 
that prey upon and burden you are apparent. I know 
thee to be burdened as man never before was burdened. 
But what most alarms us, making me sad, dear father, 
is the appearance of this fever which now afflicts you. 

Cromwell. Be not disturbed. I have communed 
with Heaven ; I am not to die of any threatened fever. 
The world needs me longer I, however, must retire, 
and take my rest. 

[. Exit. Enter Naylor. 

Naylor. Dost thou know Cromwell, the Protector. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Know him ? yes, indeed, I do know 
him. He is within. 

Naylor. Canst thee allow me to see him ? 


THE REGICIDES. 


221 


Mrs. Fleetwood. No. He has retired, and is quite 
ill, dangerously, I fear. 

Naylor. But thou shouldst know I have a mission, 
having been transformed to become the Saviour of the 
world. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Yes, I’ve heard of you, and I have 
heard of another Quaker, who, while fasting his forty 
days, bravely starved to death. What if you were to go 
and do likewise ? 

Naylor. By my divine mission, I have come to this 
city, in haste, upon a horse, and have authority to heal 
the sick and to cast out devils. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Why did you come on a horse ? 
could n’t ye find an ass ? One sick would not choose to 
be healed by any of, your faith. As to devils, they were 
all cast out when Parliament was dissolved. 

Naylor. “ Thou hast said it.” Thou hast a father; 
a Protector, as we all know. But you will understand 
there is no protector but Him whom we serve ; and by 
my mission I am to reign in this realm, — and rule too. 

[Enter Guards. 

Mrs. Fleetwood. Guards, take this Quaker away, out 
from my presence. Let him be cared for according to 
his deserts. (The Guards , seizing the Quaker , in their 
haste pitch him out headlongi) Oh, that is too cruel! 
But Quakers, with other frenzied fanatics, have long 
been offensive enemies to our peace. Poor, deluded 
mortals ! They are good men, but they serve, with 
others, to foment discord. They know not what they 
do. (A tea-bell rings.) Ah, I must return to my sick 
father. Fearful forebodings move me. 


222 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Scene IV. —In a Palace. Peters alone. 

Peters. News that the great Cromwell hath expired 
is startling! England will never see his like again. 
[Enter Richard.] Oh, my friend, what now ? 

Richard. Now that my dear father is no more, his 
sceptre inevitably must fall upon someone. The peo¬ 
ple will tender it to me, but I conceive that the burden 
of a Protector’s power would prove too heavy for an 
untutored son. I would decline it. The affairs of 
state would oppress any sovereign other than Cromwell 
himself. 

Peters. Yes, Richard, sure it is, the office of Pro¬ 
tector hath descended to thee. Disdain not this mantle 
of thy father, the great, the humane peacemaker of 
nationalities. For the sake of these islands, these 
ancient kingdoms, refuse not this sovereign power. 

Richard. The position is hazardous. Who is suf¬ 
ficient for it ? 

Peters. Richard, the power of Protector must now 
* fall upon thee. Disdain it not. For the sake of peace, 
for the sake of the prosperity of a vast people; nay, for 
the safety of my life as well as of thine, refuse it not. 

Richard. Ah! There \s danger on either - hand. 
The position without the force would be hazardous. 
Show me the man that hath in him the force of Oliver 
Cromwell, — I will then vacate, and upon him shall the 
mantle fall. 

Peters. Nay, I tell thee, my dear Richard, say it 
' not. Do not thus jeopardize this, the Protection of 
England, in the opening of an avenue to fanaticisms and 
•religious frenzies, as of old. For the sake of the people’s 


TIIE REGICIDES. 


223 


government, for the sake of the enduring fame of thy 
sainted father, the Cromwell of England and of the 
world ; nay, for the sake of the lives of his adherents 
and thine, who in the dark hour of England’s history, 
have stood up manfully against distracting tyranny at 
the mandates of thy valiant, sainted father, refuse not 
this sceptre of power. It descends from thine own 
father. For the peace of the realm, for his sake, and 
for the sake of our lives, resign not this thy position. 

Richard. Of all this matter I must consider. Why 
should n’t a man prefer the independence of a man, to 
the honors and dishonors of a throne ? Strange as it 
may seem, I must say, give me a manly independence, 
rather than a priestly, princely power, in the midst of 
heartless, distracted factions. Beyond this, naught but 
the lives of my father’s friends and the peace of this 
Commonwealth can move me. Spare me then, and let 
me consider. [Exit. 

[Enter Dr, Drug, followed by a Messenger. 

Messenger. Great news, Doctor; great news. The 
air is full of it! 

Dr. Drug. Ah, yes; and we are always alive to 
hear it. News in startling times is always in order, 
always sought for eagerly. It never pines for the want 
of listeners. Yesternight it happened, a man as he 
came running down town, stopped to take and read the 
news; and he read as how Cromwell had died of the 
pills they had given him ; and as how Richard, his son, 
had inherited his mantle; and as how, on the other 
hand, Scotland and the royal factions are making many 
proclamations for Charles Stuart to be enthroned as 
king. And thus had the man read the news a long 


224 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


time, then, pondering, he threw down the newspaper 
exclaiming, “ Oh, I must hasten away to Dr. Drug, for 
my wife is dying.” 

Messenger. Your patients, Doctor, so fond of the 
news, must give you much entertainment. 

Dr. Drug. Yes, indeed, I am entertained by a va¬ 
riety of characters and by a complication of troublesome 
diseases. \Enter Margery, Irish. 

Margery. Dear, dear Doctor. I desire you at my 
house in a hurry. 

Dr. Drug {dropping his newspaper). Why, what is 
the matter, madam ? What is the matter ? 

Margery. Ah, ye reverence, wait a little, and I ’ll 
tell ye. Yesterday my ould man, in hurrying down 
Fleet Street, by accident run against a lawyer, and in 
trouth, I say it, he has n’t been able to spake a word of 
trouth since ? Indade and indade, it is so. 

Dr. Drug. It is a bad disease, madam, very bad. 
But, madam, what lawyer did he run against ? 

Margery. Indade, indade ; it was aginst that ould 
baste of a barrister, Ould Grimstone. 

Dr. Drug. What? Sir Harbottle Grimstone? Why, 
it’s that same old barrister candidate, lawyer of the 
Crown. 

Margery. And faith, it’s that very same ould brute 
of a blackguard, Sir Harbottle. 

Dr. Drug. Well, then, if your man has run against 
Old Harbottle, I guess, I guess he ’ll die. It’s a hard 
case, a hard case, madam, anyhow. 

Margery. Then make haste, Doctor. Hurry up, 
and come to me at me own house. 

Dr. Drug. I can’t, madam. At this moment I have 


THE REGICIDES. 


225 


another engagement to another patient a mile away, 
and I must make haste to be there. 

Margery. Then, your worship, please be about pre¬ 
scribing for me ould man, that I, before ye get there, 
may be about releaving him meself. 

Dr. Drug. Well, the case is a bad one. The ven¬ 
omous jostle of a lawyer is dangerous. Go to the 
apothecary, get and give to your old man, first, a full 
dose of calomel, to be followed up by five doses of 
physic to get the lies out of him. Next, bathe him all 
over externally with the tincture of obedeldock, and at 
the same time give him internally forty grains of truth¬ 
fulness, and when I come to ye I will blister him and 
bleed, then I ’ll bleed him until he is cured. 

Margery. Yes, faith, and true enough, you ’ll blade 
the ould man. — Yes, you’ll blade him. \_Exit. Music. 

Scene V. — A parlor. Harrison, Scot, Carew, 
Clement, Jones, Scrope, Axtel, Hacker, and Coke, 
the Regicides, under excitement. 

l 

Harrison. What means this, that Richard should 
have faltered ? Why should he have distrusted the 
strength of this Commonwealth or of his own Protec¬ 
torship ? Strange that a son should thus lose faith in 
his father’s fame or in his own power; strange that any 
man should thus falter, and turn back from the faith 
and leadership of Oliver Cromwell. 

Jones. Ah, Richard is but a blank, a blank. He is 
not a true son of his valiant old father, under whom 
Great Britain has survived the shock of fanatic contend¬ 
ing factions, and for these seven years has lived and 
prospered. [Enter Peters. 


226 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Peters. Faith, I am glad to see you all; all as yet 
alive. They charge that I, as a clergyman, have stirred 
sedition against King Charles I., and that your de¬ 
crees in the great court lost him his life. What now 
shall be done? Cromwell is dead; Richard, his son, 
lives, but, half-disheartened, preferring the life of a wild 
hunter to that of the great Protector of England. 
Charles II. is now enthroned. What now is to become 
of me, and what of you, who sat in judgment against his 
father, King Charles I., whom you beheaded, and 
against whom I traversed this realm, warning the popu¬ 
lace to beware of his treacherous mandates. 

Jones. What, then, if as regicides our heads are at 
stake, what shall be done ? Shall we brave the seas ? 
Shall we fly away for the New World, as Goffe and 
Whalley and Dixwell have done ? Or shall we retract, 
turn royalists, confess, and sue for pardon ? 

Harrison Ask pardon for what ? Ask pardon ? For 
what ? For love of life ? Ask pardon for patriotism ? 
No, never. Neither principalities, nor powers, nor the 
wild threatenings of death by the Crown shall induce 
me to retract from Cromwell’s cause, which was a glo¬ 
rious cause, the cause of the people and the cause of 
God. 

Jones , Yet there are invitations. The royal arm of 
mercy is extended upon the terms of a recantation, as 
if the beheading of the king had been a crime, and re¬ 
quiring of us obedient homage to his son, now pro¬ 
claimed King of England. Shall we yield, or shall we 
try to fly ? 

Peters. No! Never, never. “ Charles I. lived and 
died a hypocrite. Charles II. is a hypocrite of another 


THE REGICIDES. 


227 


sort, and ought to die upon the same scaffold.”* Re¬ 
tract? Never from the freedom of Cromwell; never 
from the just cause of England and of our God. 
Never, never. 

\*Enter the King’s Officer and posse, with warrant 
in hand against the regicides .] 

King's Officer. The regicides are all wanted. There 
is my warrant from King Charles II. Answer as I 
call ( calling and each answering) : Hugh Peters — 
(Here), — Harrison — (Here), — Scott — (Here), — 
Carew — (Here), — Clement — (Here), — Jones — 
(Here), — Scrope — (Here), Extel — (Here), — Colonel 
Hacker — (Here), — Coke — (Here), — William Goffe 

— (No answer),—Whalley — (No answer), — Dixwell 

— (A voice from without , Absent, they desire to be ex¬ 
cused). 

Harrison. Judges Gotfe and Whalley and Dixwell 
are away on the high seas for New England. They 
have no care of seeing ye at all. 

King's Officer. Forward, now, for the King’s pres¬ 
ence at Whitehall. [ They advance between the files of 
soldiers .] \Dirge. 


* Junius Letters. 


ACT III. 


Scene I. — On a seashore in New England\ walking , 
a?id near a?i open cot, which they enter. 

Whatley. Goffe, this is indeed a new world. The 
ship and the ocean wave have well served us. Away 
we are, from royal tyrants. In vain, in vain, they sought 
our lives. 

Goffe. Yes, but the emissaries of that tyrant king 
will come here; hither they will still pursue us. And 
now where shall we seek an abode ? Where shall we 
find a place of rest, in which to secrete ourselves from 
a royal enemy, — an enemy whose minions shall lurk 
along these woodland shores seeking blood. 

Whatley. Some dark cave or cellar in some lonely 
hamlet will best serve to secrete us. Our associates, 
the judges who helped to behead King Charles of 
England, are now about to fall beneath the bloody axe. 
Perish, as of course they must, at the cruel behest of 
royalty. Fortunate, thus far, that we have escaped. 
Nevertheless, a foreign foe, pursuing us, does now, and 
henceforth must needs linger along the pathways of this 
wilderness. 

Goffe. True. And if taken, we will be hastened 
back over the high seas, to be mangled, murdered there ; 
to perish as vanquished victims of Charles II., that 
228 


THE GRAVE OF A SAGAMORE. 





















THE REGICIDES. 


229 


blood-stained successor of the great and glorious Crom¬ 
well. 

Whalley. Take courage! This new world, with its 
lofty old forests and lonely hamlets, has many hiding- 
places. Its wandering tribes, without knowledge, will 
be no tell-tales. But these walls are too public. They 
seem to echo ominous sounds, which may betray us. 

[Enter Nimrod. 

Nimrod. A ship, a ship is nearing the shore. It 
bears to the breeze the British flag. In truth, at its 
masthead flaupts the new and significant name, Charles 
II., King of England. [Exit. 

Goffe [privately'). List, Whalley, list! There’s dan¬ 
ger on board there. An enemy, an officer of the Crown, 
seeking us. Away ! away ! Which way shall we fly ? 

[ They start. 


[Alusici] 

(Sailors from on board, and from without, Ship ahoy ! 
ahoy ! Throw in the cables, oho-o ! pull away, oho ! oho /) 


Scene II. — Present Airs. Whitterwinkle and a sailor. 
Enter Aysene, the King's Constable, with a?i assistant. 

King's Constable. Madam, please inform me if here¬ 
abouts you have seen two Englishmen, well dressed, 
and of respectable appearance. 

Whitterwinkle. What, one of them a tall, long and 
white-haired ould gintleman, with long beard? 

King's Constable. Yes. 

Whitterwinkle. And the other a thick-set, dark- 
skinned old man, with long mustache, with white hair, 
and white whiskers? 

King's Constable. Yes. 


230 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Whitterwi?lkle. Well, I haven’t seen any such men. 
(Officer starts to leaved) 

Nimrod. Here, yer reverence, come back ! Look 
ahere! Do ye want to know the whereabouts of them 
there Englishmen ? 

King's Constable. Yes. 

Nimrod. Well, away down the road, yonder, as you 
know, there’s a bit of a woodpile. 

King's Constable. Yes. 

Nimrod. And jist beyond the woodpile there’s an 
old garrison-house. 

King’s Co?istable. Yes. 

Nimrod. And jist beyond the garrison-house there’s 
a bit of an ould shed. 

King's Constable. Well—yes. What then ? 

Nimrod. And, plaise yer worship, I’ve been there. 
Yer Regicides ain’t there; they are not there, not at all 
at all. 

King's Constable. And why didn’t ye tell me that 
before ? 

Nimrod. And faith, and why were ye not after asking 
me that ? 

King's Constable. The men whom I seek are in 
cocked-hats. 

Nimrod. Cocked-hats ? And faith, and I don’t be¬ 
lieve ye’ll find one of um in all Ameriky. Indade, 
ye ’ll have to budge back to the ould country to find “ a 
cocked hat.” And I am far from thinking ye are here 
for any good. Blast me, if I think ye ’ll find anybody 
that will claim to see ye at all anywhere hereabouts. 

[Exit King’s Officer. Enter Margery. 

Margery. Now that the ould bright-buttoned bugs are 


THE REGICIDES. 


231 


gone, please say, what do ye think he wants of them 
men ? 

Nimrod. Wants ? faith, and he wants them for noth¬ 
ing at all, at all, but to carry um back to the ould world 
and to murther um. - They were honest judges; did 
right. And bad luck to the blackguards that’s now 
here, after seeking their blood. 

Margery. Well, they needn’t come here to New 
England thinking they are going to carry away those 
noble, venerable judges. If the king’s officer comes 
here again, I ’ll show him the butt eend of a broom¬ 
stick. Out from my brass kettle I ’ll give him a dashing 
dose from a ladle of hot water. He may be permitted 
to rest his carcass ’neath some rude wigwam, for a while, 
but not long inside of mine, I ’ll tell him. 

Nimrod. Rumors have come, there’s to be a grand 
council of war by the tribes in this wilderness. Fears 
we have, they are meditating a conflict with our feeble 
English settlements. A fugitive Indian, from a wigwam 
not far away, brings this news. Ah, here he comes, 
with an attendant. 

[Enter Kianemo, with Leonora, the squaw sachem of 
Wachusett , at his arm.] 

Kianemo. Lady squaw, me glad to meet you agin. 
Long away have I been. Have hunting-grounds in 
island, yonder, down behind big mountain. Rivers 
there, — bright, far-spread-out lakes. Good hunting; 
big bears and beavers there. Trout, shad, salmon 
there. Me get good living; me be happy, had you 
there. 

Leonora (squaw sachem). Oh, me no go. Me have 
much land, mine. Oh, na, na, nah. 


232 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Kianemo. True; but not so much good fishing, not 
such good hunting-ground. And ye be most alone, and 
me be alone, too, down there. 

Leonora . Me have good hunting-ground, fishing 
enough. Me raise corn and beans, and gather clams 
at seashore. 

Kianemo . Say, Leonora, will ye not be my squaw, 
me would go or stay ? Me would build new wigwam ; 
me hunt, me fish. Me would go or stay. 

Leo?iora. Ah ! nah ! nah ! Ye no brave at all. You 
be squaw. Ye never took a scalp, never killed a coon, 
no grizzly bear, never robbed an Englishmen, nor stole 
a pig, ye no kill a man. Nah ! nah ! Ye no brave ; ye 
be nothing but a woman. I ’ll no marry ye al all. 

\Exit Kianemo. Enter Officer. 

Officer. I want Kianemo; have a warrant against 
him, that I may have him before the great council of 
the tribes on the charge of having murdered a creole. 
Where is he ? 

Leonora. Me don’t know; been here; gone now. 
What murder ? What big wrongs have he done ? 

Officer . Wrongs ? Why, in these papers he is 
charged of murdering an Englishman, and of robbing a 
chief of the tribes. I want his body, that I may have 
him before a jury, formed of the council of the English 
and Mohegans, now in session. 

Kianemo {entering from behind a screen, now stand¬ 
ing forth, exc/aims) : Is it Kianemo’s life you seek ? I 
am Kianemo. I am at your call. If the taking from 
the wigwam what was mine own be robbery, then Kia¬ 
nemo is a robber. If the slaughter of an Englishman 
who is trying to slay me is murder, then Kianemo is a 


THE REGICIDES. 


233 


murderer. I am Kianemo. Take me ; I am ready for 
the trial. Adieu, Leonora, adieu. {Leonora embracing 
him.) Let me go, Leonora. Me will meet um. 

* Leonora. Go, Kianemo, go try um. Me with you. 
Yea, I will be thine. {Officer forcing him away.) 
Thine, Kianemo, thine {holding up both hands). 

[Music.] 

Scene III. — A hamlet and log church. Present Leo¬ 
nora and sailor. 

Nimrod. Leonora, what luck ? and faith and what 
are they being about doing with Kianemo, ye brave, yr 
sweetheart, ha ! ha ! ha ! 

Leo?iora. Me know not. Court refused me a place 
there. Great cowards, they. No decent; mean. They 
hold up tomahawk and hatchet gainst me. They push 
me out. 

Nbnrod. What, Leonora, did Kianemo do ? 

Leonora. He say, Ha! he only stole a turkey 
gobbler, and murdered an Englishman. 

Nimrod. Is that all ? Then, and faith and by the 
howly St. Patrick, they can never harm a hair of his 
head. For he niver would steal a gobbler unless he 
were hungry, and as to a bloody Englishman everybody 
knows he ought to be killed. Fear not, Leonora, your 
brave Kianemo will be acquitted, and will again come • 
back to ye. Ah! here’s a stranger. 

[Enter Goffe, cautiously. 

Goffe. Be not disturbed, my friend. I merely desire 
to inquire of you the way to Hadley, a small hamlet not 
far away from here. 

Nimrod, lndade, it’s not far away, and faith, I would 


234 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


be pleased to go and show ye to it ( going and pointing 
the way). Turn there to the right, and sure ye ’ll be 
right strait going to it. 

Leonora. Nimrod, who is that old man ? He be a 
judge, me think. 

Nimrod. Whiste ! whiste, I say! Betray him not. 
And, sure, he is a judge. He’s one of the Regicides. 
Coy he is. He keeps well aloof from the king’s offi¬ 
cer. Whiste ! say nothing. ’T would be bad luck to 
ye to betray him. 

Leonora. Good! good ! He be a brave, save him. 
Me hate* the king. He much tyrant, much bloody. 

Nimrod. Not a soul of us here are loyal to the king. 
Tyrants have no place in this, our howly New England. 
The king is the beast of a tyrant, and the son of a 
tyrant. Our settlers are more loyal to the great Crom¬ 
well, now dead, than to that beast of a king. Charles 
is a royal blackguard, and he \s about beheading every 
honest judge he can catch. This man Goffe and his 
companions are threatened of the king’s axe. Being 
pursued here, they hide away, seeking concealment. 
They a^e at Hadley ; but hould on, don’t ye tell it. 

Leonora. The Regicides be brave. Me friendly to 
urn, but no friendly to the king. Friendly Indians all 
friendly to Regicides. But Philip’s tribes, hostile, would 
kill urn all. [ Enter Sagamore Sam.] Here comes Sam. 
Come in. What news, Sam ? What news do ye bring 
from the trial of Kianemo ? 

Sam. Jury good. They no find Kianemo guilty. 
He’ll getaway; Englishmen mad. They’ll try to 
shoot him ( looking out in the distance). Ah, he runs ! he 
runs ( holding up hands). 



GREENWOOD GROVE, 




i 


( 


/ 










































THE REGICIDES. 


235 


[ Guns arc exploding, blazing without at Kiancmo, as 
he leaps away back of the screen, and Leonora, with both 
hands uplifted, is on tiptoe in ecstacy .] 

Scene IV. — Near a log church in Hadley. 

Leonora (singing) : — 

Kianemo is brave, Kiancmo is free, 

Kianemo is mine forever to be; 

He will find me again in the wild shady grove, 

And again will I greet him in the glories of love. 

\_Entcr Nimrod, listening. 

Oh, the brave man, how noble in action of heart, 

When from truth and the right he doth never depart, 

When in faith and with vengeance he battles the wrong, 

In the transports of loveliness equally strong. 

Kianemo is brave, Kianemo is free, 

Kianemo is mine forever to be; 

He will find me again in the wild shady grove, 

And again will I greet him in the glories of love. 

Sam. Me right glad, Leonora, to find ye so happy. 
Me rejoice that Kianemo get away. But I’ve now 
been hearing much, much of war, — how Philip, our 
king, everywhere is burning down cots in the settle¬ 
ments, and murthering the English. This day mornin 
Deerfield was destroyed, and soon they ’ll be breakin 
in somewhere else. See there ( pointing his finger ), 
Puritans have to carry their guns to their church. 

[Armed men, with women and children, are passing, 
one by one , into the door of it .] 

Leonora. You, Nimrod, be peaceful. You no do 
anything against the English. Ye would no help Philip, 
and ye would not betray that dear old judge, the Regi¬ 
cide. He be hid, me guess, about here somewhere. 


crq crq 


236 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Concealed, he be safe, me hope. Whether in some 
cabin or in some old cave me know not. But heed ye ! 
he must not be betrayed. 

Sam. Oh, na, na! me no betray him. He good 
old friend. This be Hadley’s day of fasting, from fear 
of Philip’s tribes. His warriors not far away now. 

Leonora. But what if they should break in upon us 
now ? We are in peace with the English settlers, and 
if they come to conquer us, what should we do ? 

Sam. Oh, then me run. Me hide away. You, being 
squaw sachem, they no hurt you. Ah! there, they ’ve 
come. (A cry without, “Fire! fire!” and a rush 
is made; and without a?i Indian war-whoop is heard, 
with a great noise!) 

All. Wo-ach! wo-ach! ha, ha, ha! Wo-ach! wo-ach! ha, 
ha, ha! Wo-ach! oh! wo-ach! {As they near the church, 
skulking hither and thither, the church people turn upon 
them, advancing with loud explosions of shotguns , and 
with vociferous imprecations, when Goffe, emergingfrom a 
cabin cellar, takes to the lead of the Puritatis!) 

Leonora. Oh, they ’ll kill us ! they ’ll burn us ! 

\Screaming, she dashes beyond the screen. 

Goffe {seen without, in his white locks, being heard 

% 

within). Villagers, move forward ! follow me ! (and 
with repeated discharges of musketry and pistols, and with 
great noise of men and women, the tribes arc drivcti out of 
sight, with repeated shouts of “ Shoot um ! drive the devil¬ 
ish murderers ! drive um into the sea ! Drive um where 
the devil drove the hogs ”). 

[Curtain.] 


THE REGICIDES. 


237 


Scene V. — Same. Villagers returned and returning 

from the fight. 

Old Israel. Well, the scamps did n’t do as they 
meant to do. My ould firelock blazed well. She 
didn’t miss fire. I levelled upon urn, and zounds! how 
they did heel it. 

Sam. Yes, faith, and sich a getting down-stairs as 
they leaped away adown that ledge, head foremost; and 
away they went, piled up — 

Tim. One of uin dropped a tomahawk, another a 
scalping-knife, another a gun. Here they are {holding 
them up). 

Tom. Old Bampico ; indeed how that ould devil was 
discomfuddled. How he flared up when I hit him over 
the back of his cocoanut with a club. So he sneaked 
away, kinder agitated. 

Noah. One of um shot an arrow at me, and I let 
blaze at him and he went tumbling over backwards, for¬ 
getting his poor relations, just as if a mule had saluted 
him with both hind legs. 

Nathan. The heavens ! just when on the run my old 
blunderbuss, blazing with fire and smoke, went off. 
The charge went right against the hinder parts of that 
bloody old chief, and over he went headlong. 

Deacon Drown. All over the village the bloody 
beasts made an attack at the same time. They seemed 
in a hurry, driven many ways, setting fires. And didn’t 
we rout um ? 

But now it is meet that we return to our sacred Puri¬ 
tan altar. Thankful may we be to our King of Kings, 
and Lord of Lords, for this our safe deliverance. 

[ Exeunt. Enter Leonora and Nimrod. 


238 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


Leonora. Nimrod, in this battle me thought it best to 
take no part. Indians my friends, so be the settlers. 
For Philip’s crew me have no concern. Me think of 
another. Me fear for me brave Kianemo. Nimrod, 
have ye seen or heard of him ? Me never have seen 
him since his trial and escape. 

Nwirod. Nay, and faith, and I believe he safely 
escaped; and sure he wouldn’t dare to be in the fight, 
for either side would kill him dead. But to what tribe 
he fled, or whether he be still secreted hereabouts, me 
don’t know, can’t tell ye. 

Leonora. Kianemo be too brave to hide away. His 
arm be too strong to feel weak at sight of murderers. 

Nimrod. Where do ye think Kianemo may be ? 

Leonora. Ah ! how is it, do ye ask where ? He be 
in deep woods, pursues the wild deer in the moun¬ 
tains. 

Nimrod. And faith, nor the devil of a deer does he 
pursue in the mountains. Ah, ha 1 the dear that he 
pursues is niver a bit so far away; ha, ha, ha! It’s 
Leonora. Yes, dear, she is dear enough. 

Leonora. Oh, no, me refuse him. Me now sad 
because me offend him, I fear. Guess he knows me 
not to be here. He may be wandering, looking for me. 
Pie valiant and noble. Kianemo be near me at night. 
He in me thought, in me heart. Me fear him dead. 

Nimrod. Never mind, Leonora ! never mind ! Kia¬ 
nemo must be still alive ! True, and the bloody mur- 
therers shot at him. But faith, they never a one of 
them hit him. And ’t was me that upon a horse saw 
him as valiantly he flew away from the blackguards out 
of sight unharmed. Me own guess for it, and sure he 


THE REGICIDES. 239 

is somewhere in these hillsides, still loving and still 
saking his dear Leonora. 

Leonora. Oh, then, me will wait. Oh, Kianemo, 
Kianemo ( breaking into a song, gazing mto the i 7 ioun- 
tains ): — 

My heart shall leap with joy serene, 

To hail thee here at morn or e’en, 

In manner most becoming. 

I ’ll make the wigwam wild with flowers, 

I ’ll know the very midnight hours, 

Still waiting for thy coming. 

Up to that promised bridal day, 

My soul transported wings away, 

To my beloved alone. 

For him, for me, what joys to come, 

To meet for aye, to be but one ; 

, Then shall my cares be gone. 

[Music.] 

Scene VI. — Sajne. Near the Wachusett Mountains. 
Present , Goffe and Whatley ; and Dixwell approaching 
a wigwam. 

Dixwell. Good cheer, my companions, good cheer. 
But are we safe in these mountains ? 

Goffe. Oh, yes! There are no English settlements 
near us. The king’s constables can never find us in 
these woods. We’ve heard of him only occasionally 
through the friendly Indians. Surely, the constable will 
never seek these brambles. This New England wilder¬ 
ness is much too dark for the royal eyesight. Indeed, 
its pathways are much too rugged for the silver slippers, 
or for the foolhardiness of a king’s constable. These 
bramble mountain passes, oft troublesome to the hun- 


240 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


ters’ hounds, shall serve to endanger the royal dogs of 
King Charles. Sure, the king’s cowardly constable will 
never have the courage to penetrate this, so dark a 
wilderness. If he does, in the faith of God, and in my 
own strength (brandishing a pistol ), he shall be my dog 
and my victim. 

Dixwell. Since here, we have traversed the terri¬ 
tories of Canonicus, of the squaw sachem of Wachusett, 
and of Hadley. The tribes are friendly to us. Even 
the royal settlers having hearts of men would conceal 
us. Cautious, we must henceforth live concealed. 

Goffe. Concealed; save when war invades or endan¬ 
gers us. As here in Hadley, when we volunteered to 
aid the church-going settlers against the invasions of 
Philip’s tribes. • 

Whalley. Yes, Dixwell, let me add a word; let me 
tell ye as how our Brother Goffe, hidden at Hadley of 
late, came forth and heroically opposed the invasion of 
blood-stained savages, and, leading the Puritans, drove 
the tribes out of sight. And then how at once his old 
white locks disappeared into a cellar out of sight, and 
how at length to this hour the settlers have thought 
him to have been an angel sent of God to their deliver¬ 
ance. 

Goffe. Ah, mayhap, it was an apparition, from their 
more immediate friends, the departed Pilgrims. [Exit. 

Dixwell. More likely it may have been the ghost of 
King Charles I. upon a flying visit to his venerable 
judges. Indeed, it would be doubtful if even here he 
heard any good of himself. But who comes ? [Enter 
Leonora.] Lady, thou art, as I am impressed, the 
squaw sachem of Wachusett. 


CROSSING TO THE CONTOOCOOK. 





* 
























































































































































































I 


THE REGICIDES. 


241 


Leo?iora. They call me so. Me own these lands, 
and me live in these mountains. 

Goffe. Well, then, as- I opine, this wilderness being 
thine, you have a strong influence over the tribes and 
with the English settlers in this new world. 

Leonora. Me have lived with English at peace, but 
have no good will for the angry tribes of late King 
Philip. 

Goffe. Ah ! and this is where and why you are a 
friend to us; and now that we are accused of being 
regicides, wandering here for dear life, may we not, 
Leonora, seek thy protection ? 

Leonora. Whence have ye come ? And why does 
King Charles seek to kill thee ? 

Goffe. We three, as they call us, are Regicides. For 
seven long years we were friends and adherents of 
Oliver Cromwell. Believing in him, we were appointed 
and sat among the fifty-seven judges who condemned 
King Charles I., the present king’s father, to be be¬ 
headed. For all that seven years England had its 
best government. But Cromwell died. Since then 
the second Charles has been crowned; and now he 
is seeking the lives of us all, the judges who sat in 
judgment against that old king and tyrant, his father. 
Many of the judges, our brethren in London, have 
already been beheaded. We have fled. We are here, 
and the king’s constables are on our track, doubtless 
somewhere about in this wilderness. Here we are, 
and here I am now, dear Leonora. Will you find me 
some place where I may be at peace and in entire 
safety ? 

Leonora. Me will try; ye will please follow me. 


242 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


(And she conducts him through a door into a cellar of her 
wigwam , and returning) : \Enter Kianemo.] Oh, my 
dear, dear Kianemo ! ( embracing him.) Now tell me, 
tell me, Kianemo, where ye have been, and how ye 
have fared ? 

Kianemo. Ah, the murderers did seek me life. But 
me took flight away, away off. Now me life be safe, me 
have come back. Me love thee, Leonora. Me seek a 
new wigwam with thee. 

Leonora. Nay, not now. Me tell you a story, a 
secret. There be a brave old man, a Regicide, in there 
{pointing to the tent door). Big man, a judge, who tried 
and helped to kill a bad king. Now the second king’s 
constable is in these, my own woods, trying to catch 
and kill the judges. « 

Kianemo. Be there more than one judge ? 

Leonora. Yea, there be three, only one here now; 
two others somewhere in the woods. 

Kianemo. What! in a wigwam, or in a cave ? 

L.eonora. In a cave, or in some old cot, secreted. 
The officer is hunting after the judges to carry them 
back to the big king in England to be beheaded. That 
officer be murderer. He seek blood. Go find him. 
He be spying about here. Do this for me. To do 
this, I charge thee, kill him ! kill that king’s constable ! 

Kianemo. How shall me know him ? And me arrows 
all used up; how shall me kill him ? 

Leonora. Know him ? He have blue coat, bright 
buttons. Arrows ? me get one ( turning and opening the 
tent door , and bringing a pistol from the Regicides to 
Kianemo). Now kill that constable, or this right hand 
of mine shall never be thine. Kill him ! 


THE REGICIDES. 


243 


Kianemo. Me will kill him ; me will give' his body 
to the wolf and his soul to the grizzly bear. [Exit. 

[Enter Goffe. 

Goffe. Lady, have ye seen an English officer here 
of late, a man quite aged? ■ . : i 

Leo?iora. Yea, me have seen one. But he is gone. 
What do ye want of the man ? Is he a Regicide, and is 
the king’s officer hunting for him ? 

Goffe . Indeed he is, my friend. I parted with him 
not far away, as he then appeared \Enter Whalley] to 
be meandering hither, avoiding detection from the 
king’s forces. Ah, here is another old friend. 

Whalley. Goffe, I begin to fear for our safety in 
this wilderness. The king’s constable is hereabouts. 
I got sight of him ; and I descried an Indian, who ap¬ 
parently was upon his track, lurking clandestinely in 
pursuit of him. 

Goffe {beckoning to Leonora). Here let me acquaint 
my friend Whalley with thee, who art the heir to all the 
lands hereabouts. We are strangers. We seek thy 
protection beneath these mountains, this lofty Wa- 
chusett. 

Leonora. What! art thou also a Regicide ? Were you 
among the braves who have escaped to these shores, 
who long ago sat in judgment against King Charles I. ? 

Whalley. Yea, indeed, we are the same, and we ask 
thy friendly protection {drawing his pistols'). These 
deadly weapons, with which we are armed, if need be, 
shall sustain thee in our defence. 

Leonora. Protection, braves, protection ! This right 
arm of mine, the Great Spirit giving me strength, shall 
give protection to thy frosty locks. Here, give me a 


244 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


firelock ( Goffe giving her a pistol\ she , opening the door, 
and secretes the7n also with Dixwell). There please stay 
till Leonora calls for thee. And I ’ll swear to the 
Great Spirit, that the king’s constable, who now seeks 
thy blood, shall bite the dust. Adieu. 

[Curtain.] 

Scene VII. — Same. Leonora at rest. Enter Kmg’s 
Constable. 

Kings Constable. Are you the proprietor of this 
cot ? 

Leonora. Me own it; me own these mountains. 
This be my wigwam, mine to keep and defend. 

King’s Co?istable. But I have a warrant of power 
from King Charles. 

Leonora. And my power be from the Great Spirit. 

Constable. Mine is against the Regicides, not against 
you. It charges them of having beheaded King Charles 
I. By this ( opening his paper) I am commanded to 
apprehend the three judges and convey them back to 
England. 

Leotiora. Me will have nothing to do with your war¬ 
rant. King has nothing to do with me, me ’ll have 
nothing to do with the king. 

Constable. Assuredly, my warrant from the King 
authorizes me to make search for the Regicides, Goffe, 
Whalley, and Dixwell. I demand of you to know 
whether they are, or are not, secreted somewhere here 
within your enclosure. You, I am told, are the squaw 
sachem of these lands. 

Leonora. This enclosure is Leonora’s. It be her 
own castle. Over her or hers your king has no power. 


THE REGICIDES. 


245 


This is Leonora’s hunting-ground, not your hunting- 
ground. ’T is the land of a squaw sachem, not the 
land of a king. 

Constable. Believing the Regicides to be here, I 
shall insist on entering your wigwam. I have a posse 
of assistants to my service. I will summon them. 

[Exit to call them. 

Leonora. Me defy ye ( raising the war whoop), 
Woach! woach! ha! ha! ha! woach ! woach ! ha! ha! 
ha ! oh ! woach ! ( Instantly a popping of infantry is heard 
without. Kianemo from the distance is blazing away at 
the king's constable and posse, and they, nearing the wig- 
wain, are exploding their weapons and dodging hither and 
thither.) 

Leonora (calling to the Regicides). Bring bow and 
arrows, bring weapons, bloody weapons. The king’s 
posse, they be coming to kill us. 

All (answering). Oh, yes ! Oh, yes ! ( leaping forth 
pistols in hand, all abreast, to the aid of Leonora.) 

Goffe. Fear not, my brave lady, we, with you, will 
take the defensive. Thou shalt not be endangered. 

Leonora. Let the tyrant come. Me ’ll let daylight 
shine into him. I ’ll pile slugs straight into his bread¬ 
basket. His body will I cut in quarters ; his heart 
shall be food for the tiger, and his blood shall be drink 
for the jackal. ( Noise without, still the musketry seems 
nearing the wigwam, and she fires at himl) Ah, me hit 
him, me hit him ! Did ye see him limp ? And yet he 
lurks. 

Goffe. And to die, I hope. See (holding up his 
weapons), I’ve reserved my fire. This weapon, I have 
reserved it to the use of a tyrant’s officer, and to the re- 


246 


BATTLE OF THE BUSH. 


ception of a murderous assassin in the unholy disguise 
of a king’s constable, seeking blood. To take his life 
shall and will assert my own manliness. That God, 
who alone reigns in this wilderness through this queen 
of the forest, Leonora, and who is not King Charles 
(glancing upwards ), shall strengthen this arm ( extendijig 
it), and shall justify the deed. Hasten, Whalley! 
Hasten, Dixwell, haste! See to it that Leonora’s 
weapons, as well as your own, are well charged and 
primed. 

Leonora. Me kill him. Me all ready. 

\Enter Nimrod in a hurry. Noise of musketry with¬ 
out .] 

Nimrod. News, Leonora, news. There be a duel; 
terrible fight. The king’s constable hath hurt Kia- 
nemo, and Kianemo hath crippled the king’s constable, 
and there be others there fighting. Kianemo be in and 
out, but he be fast following urn with gun and daggers. 

Leonora (extendijig her dagger). Then let me alone. 
I ’ll kill that constable if Kianemo don’t. ( The consta¬ 
ble limping into sight, but perceiving the Regicides armed, 
tries to secrete himself, but dodges out of sight pursued by 
Kianemo; when round they come again, and Kianemo, 
while all arc firing at him, kills him with a dagger.) 

Goffe. Thus dies a would-be murderer. Thus let 
the wicked perish; a tyrant’s messenger seeking blood, 
let him die and slumber like a dog. Leonora, nobly 
hast thou defended thy castle; nobly indeed have ye 
defended us. Thanks we give thee, with such rewards 
as our means will afford thee, to wit, the crown of a 
queen. (. Placing it upon her head, he exclaims) : Indeed, 
thou shalt be queen of these mountains forever. Kia- 


THE REGICIDES. 


247 


nemo, what do ye find upon the person of a royal tyrant’s 
messenger ? 

Kianemo. Me find nothing but these papers and a 
purse of gold. 

Goffe. Give me the papers; the gold is thine, Kia¬ 
nemo ( returning it to him , and at the same time destroying 
the papers'). Thus the king’s warrant becomes as noth¬ 
ingness. Like unto the king’s constable, let the royalty 
of all tyrants perish. In sight of this, my dear Brothers 
Dixwell and Whalley, these very men are endeared to us. 
For here is our deliverance, and here is the queen. And 
here is the gallant, the great-hearted Kianefno, who, 
henceforth, is to be the bearer of many a floweret, and 
forever ( joining their hands) with a valiant, truthful 
Jj^art, is to lead our noble queen by the right hand. 
Thus, our dear queen, thou art wedded to the heroic, 
noblest Kianemo. \_Regicides ha?id in hand. 

\Curtain slow falling .] 











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THE INDIAN WARS 

OIF 

NEW ENGLAND. 

WITH A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JOHN ELIOT, 

BY 

COL. ROBERT B. CAVERLY, 

Author of “Battle of the Buslif “Epics, Lyrics and Balladsetc. 

WITH FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The hardships, dangers, self-sacrifice and courage of the 
early settlers of New England, in meeting the cunning and 
relentless Indian tribes, make a story stranger than fiction, 
and a history crowded with lessons of patriotism and devo¬ 
tion to principle. The perils of frontier life at the West, are 
thought to be marvelous, but they are few and mild in com¬ 
parison with those in the early days of New England. The 
author, though a lawyer in the active duties of his profession, 
has for years made a study of early times and people and 
places, and thus prepared himself for this great work; and 
he is moreover a poet of more than ordinary genius, and 
weaves the rugged columns of historic fact and statement 
with grace and beauty. 

Every man and woman, as well as student and school 
boy or girl who has any love for New England should read 
this volume. Places now covered with splendid cities and 
quiet villages, we find from these pages, have been the theatre 
of sacrifice and suffering to establish our free country, with 
its beneficient institutions. 

' IT IS A BOOK POR THE LIBRARY AND THE HOME, 

A volume for the youth of cur land, and its lessons 
should make patriotic and self-denying men and women. 

Large, Handsome 12mo. nearly 500 Pages, Illust. Olotli, $2.00 
JAMES H. EARLE, Publisher, 

i 78 Washington St., Boston, Mass. 







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